Community groups press for social‑housing and land‑bank alternatives to private public‑private deals

A coalition of community groups and housing advocates used the DMPED oversight hearing to press an alternative to the dominant public‑private partnership model. Sam Bonner (DC Community Wealth Builders) urged the district to shift resources toward cooperative ownership, land banks and public commons partnerships that keep assets and value in community hands. "Public commons partnerships could keep assets in communities' hands," he said, laying out a set of tools to generate local jobs and preserve long‑term affordability.

Will Merrifield (Center for Social Housing and Public Investment) advocated for an expanded municipal social‑housing role, citing Montgomery County’s Laureate as a model of municipality‑owned projects that produce permanently affordable units and scale by revolving production funds. "When the district owns the land and retains ownership, it can dramatically reduce development cost," Merrifield told the committee. Several witnesses also called for audits of past public‑private deals; William Jordan alleged misuses in Highland Park/Donatelli projects and urged audit and, if necessary, pause on new large partnerships. DMPED said it will provide additional analyses on public‑ownership options and the capacity of existing authorities (DCHA) to expand direct production.